ASSISTANT DIRECTOR EMERSON CLARKE TICKET PRICES: $17 STUDENTS/SENIORS $20 GENERAL
7:30 PM 21ST FE B1ST MAR
WELCOME!
Welcome to the fourth show of our 2024-25 season, Luigi Pirandello’s timeless masterpiece, Six Characters in Search of an Author directed by our newly appointed Assistant Director of the School of Theatre, Television, and Film, Dr. Katie Turner.
At its core, Six Characters in Search of an Author explores the complex interplay between reality and illusion, identity and authorship. The play’s innovative structure and meta-theatrical elements invite us to question the nature of our own existence and the roles we play in our daily lives. In a world where the lines between reality and fiction are increasingly blurred by social media and digital personas, Pirandello’s themes are more relevant than ever.
As the Director of the School of Theatre, Television, and Film, I am immensely proud of our talented cast, creative team, and crew. Their dedication and passion have brought this thought-provoking narrative to life in ways that are both captivating and deeply moving.
Thank you for joining us on this journey of discovery and reflection. We hope this performance sparks meaningful conversations long after the final curtain falls.
Enjoy the show!
Stephen Brotebeck, Director School of Theatre, Television, and Film
Content Warning: This show includes adult language and themes, references to suicide, and brief moments of gun violence. It is not appropriate for children.
This production contains theatrical fog/haze and flashing/strobe lighting.
+MA in Theatre Arts
*First Mainstage Production
°MFA in Design and Technology for Theatre, Television, and Film
^Qualifying or Thesis/Capstone Production
SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR
By Luigi Pirandello
Directed by Dr. Katie B. Turner Assistant Director Emerson Clarke
Scenic Coordinator .................................................................. Ralph Funicello
The first time Six Characters in Search of an Author was produced in Rome, 1921, it led to a riot in the theatre. Playwright Luigi Pirandello had to leave through a side entrance to avoid the aggravated audience. As it caught on, however, the play’s success elevated Pirandello’s name as one of Italy’s most important writers.
Why did audiences have this reaction? Theatre goers in Pirandello’s time might have come across artistic movements that explored different representations of reality such as futurism, dadaism, surrealism and teatro grotesco. Nevertheless, the theatrical norm at that time was realism, which focused on the depiction of everyday life in a naturalistic manner. Plots consistently featured ‘real and typical’ people in ‘real and typical’ situations. The self aware, questioning nature of Six Characters in Search of an Author greatly deviates from these norms, making the piece something quite alien to audiences of the early 20th century.
At the time in Italy, theatre was highly regarded as a means of propaganda for fascist ideology. Today, the conversation of how we are influenced by the media we consume remains relevant. How do we distinguish truth from fiction when misinformation, caricatures and logical fallacies pervade our media?
How do we know what is real? While this question might seem simple at first, further consideration leads to a rabbit hole. Can we objectively evaluate reality when we cannot separate ourselves from it? In the world of Six Characters in Search of an Author, all of these questions come to the forefront. Can truth be found within the world of fiction? What even is ‘truth’?
Six Characters in Search of an Author has everything I love in a play–humor, drama, philosophy, masks, and metatheatre (and puppets–but I added those myself, which will surprise no one who knows me).
I first discovered this play in college and adapted it for my senior thesis project. It has been a delight to revisit this play after 25 years of making, studying, and teaching theatre. Instead of diminishing with time, my appreciation for this work has only deepened. I understand much better now than when I was in my 20s the power of media to shape our thoughts, feelings, and actions, and the awesome responsibility we owe to our audiences to use that power for good. Pirandello wrote this play while living under a fascist regime. I think this was a covert way for him to present his concerns about the way Hitler, Mussolini, and Stalin were manipulating masses of people using film and theatre. Or maybe he was just critical of the new fad for Realism exploding in Europe. Either way, the play offers a rich discourse for probing the tension between illusion and reality, and the difficulty of telling the difference between the two.
Directing this play was a wonderful excuse to pull out all of the theatrical stops. The script calls for a large ensemble of actors but provides little character information for them. This allowed us to use improvisation to create the lively and varied personalities you will meet tonight. The script also calls for masks for the Six Characters that arrive on the scene. Masks are a long tradition in theatre, and assist in the non-verbal communication of character types and points of view. Our actors took a masterclass on mask work with Liz Shipman, a local theatre artist and teacher, to gain the skills necessary to do this work. I also decided to represent the Little Girl and Young Boy with puppets instead of live actors (puppets, incidentally, that appeared in the last production I directed at SDSU, The Long Christmas Ride Home by Paula Vogel). This allowed us to both include an additional theatrical element and amplify the themes of the play. I didn’t think anyone would believe an 18-year old college student was a 10 year-old boy or a 6 year-old girl. Our puppeteers, on the other hand, bring their puppets to life in such a way that you may occasionally find yourself forgetting they aren’t “real.” And finally, we added interactive elements intended to immerse you into the world of the play. We wanted to eliminate the line between art and life as much as possible, again amplifying the play’s themes.
I hope you enjoy this theatrical adventure, and that you find the fun in it, even when it explores dark places. Remember, it’s only fiction. (Or is it?) Thank you for supporting theatre at San Diego State University!
DR. KATIE B. TURNER, Director
DIRECTOR
KATIE B. TURNER is a long-time theatre artist with a passion for actor training, directing, and teaching. She has been a Lecturer in Theatre at SDSU since 2017, and this semester has also been named Assistant Director of TTF. This show is her third production at SDSU, and she is grateful for the opportunity to work with this immensely talented cast, crew, and production team.
This year marks Katie’s 25th year as a theatre artist. Recent credits include playing Ida Bailey (Escape at the Gaslamp Museum) and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (The Whaley House Experience) with History Theater Co in San Diego. Before directing her last SDSU production, A Long Christmas Ride Home (2022), Katie was the Artistic Director and Producer for Turnkey Theatre from 2020-2022, a company she created with SDSU students during the Pandemic. Turnkey specialized in interactive audio plays. Their biggest success was Iris & the Axe, an interactive choose-your-own adventure Gothic melodrama, written and directed by Dr. Turner and drawing from her dissertation research. This piece was featured at the 2022 San Diego International Fringe Theatre Festival, where it garnered the “Out of the Box” award.
Most recently, Katie has turned to entrepreneurship, taking over as Executive Director of the Meisner & Chekhov Integrated Actor Training program, with whom she also studied from 2018-2023, and opening her own acting studio, The Actor’s Place, last October. She is thrilled to be passing on her passion for acting to local actors, and hopes the studio will become a flagship for actor training in San Diego. This summer, Katie will begin a teacher training program in the Michael Chekhov acting technique with the Michael Chekhov Association (MICHA), funded by a grant from the William Male Foundation.
She hopes you enjoy her interpretation of Pirandello’s classic play!
MISSION The School of Theatre, Television, and Film provides a high quality education for undergraduate and graduate students that emphasizes excellence in the arts and technology, grounded in conceptual and historical foundations. support at psfa.sdsu.edu
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
EMERSON CLARKE is a senior and is so excited to be assistant directing her first production here at the SDSU Mainstage! She is a TFM Critical Studies Major with a theatre minor and has explored many areas of the film and theatre world during her time at State, including directing, performing, and writing! She is originally from Massachusetts and grew up doing theatre throughout her life, including being involved in many productions performing and directing. She is the Artistic Director of Skull and Dagger and loves to be a part of the countless events put on including organizing the Uncaged Festival! In her time at SDSU, she has been involved with performing in Little Women and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead as well as directing last year’s production of Clean! She is a House Manager and Box Office Staff here at SDSU, as well as at La Jolla Playhouse and Cygnet Theatre! She hopes to continue her passions for writing for the stage after graduation and looks forward to continuing a career in the theatre world. Emerson would like to thank her friends and family for always supporting her dreams! She would also like to thank Dr. Katie Turner for giving her this amazing opportunity as well as the cast and crew for making this an experience she can never forget!
SOUND DESIGNER
PAUL PETERSON: Previous designs at San Diego State University include: A New Brain, The Thanksgiving Play, Waiting for Godot, In a Sunshine State, The House of Bernarda Alba, Lucky Me, Mr. Burns-A Post Electric Play, Children of Eden, Ziggy, Stardust & Me, Cabaret, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, and Postcard American Town. Elsewhere, Paul’s work has been heard at: The Old Globe, Milwaukee Repertory Theater, San Jose Repertory Theatre, CenterStage, La Jolla Playhouse, Sledgehammer Theatre (Associate Artist), San Diego Repertory Theatre, San Diego Musical Theatre and many more. He earned his B.A. in Drama with an emphasis in Technical Design from SDSU. Paul is currently a Lecturer in Sound Design and Technology at SDSU’s School of Theatre, a proud member of United Scenic Artists Local 829, an Artist in Residence at Canyon Crest Academy, and a member of the Theatrical Sound Designers and Composers Association (TSDCA).
STAGE MANAGER
SYDNEY CICCHITTO is a third year and is so excited to be stage managing for her first production here at the SDSU MainStage! She is a TFM Production major with a minor in Theatre and Business Management. In her time here, she worked as a Scenic Designer for I Could Use A Drink, a Scenic Painter and Technician for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, and a Scenic Designer for Pipeline. She currently is a volunteer as a Scenic Artist for the SDSU Mainstage. She is so grateful for this opportunity and would like to thank everyone involved in this production for the heart and stride they put into it, as well as her friends and family for their continuous support. She hopes you enjoy the show!
COSTUME DESIGNER
KELAN YANG is a costume designer who works both in San Diego and China. She holds a B.A. from San Diego State University and is in her second year as a Costume Design MFA student at SDSU. She worked as a Costume Designer for Waiting for Godot at SDSU and dance show Perpetual (E) Motion at the Malashock Dance Company in San Diego, Costume Coordinator for Children of Eden at SDSU, Assistant Costume Designer for In a Sunshine State at SDSU, Assistant Costume Designer for Mr. Burns, A Post-Electric Play at SDSU, and Costume Assistant for Cabaret at SDSU. She can’t wait to challenge herself in more different areas. And she is more than excited to see her first design on the Prebys Stage SDSU! She would love to thank her partner, her family, and all the people behind the stage for their support.
LIGHTING DESIGNER
OLEANDER ZEISSIG is a first-year graduate student pursuing an MFA in lighting design at San Diego State University. This is their first time designing here at SDSU, after working as an assistant lighting designer for the most recent production, A New Brain. Prior to their admittance to SDSU, they earned their BFA in Theatre Design/Technology at the University of Texas at Arlington in 2020, where they designed lighting for the Maverick Dance Company. They would like to thank their family, friends, and their cat Winifred for their constant support and encouragement.
SCENIC COORDINATOR
RALPH FUNICELLO holds the position of Powell Chair in Set Design at San Diego State University. He has designed the scenery for over 300 productions of plays and operas including the Broadway productions of Julius Caesar, Brooklyn Boy, Henry IV (Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Tony Award nominations), King Lear, QED, and Division Street. He is an Associate Artist at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego, and has designed for many prominent companies including the LA Opera, the San Diego Opera, the American Conservatory Theatre, the Mark Taper Forum, the South Coast Rep, the Seattle Rep, the Lincoln Center Theatre, the Manhattan Theatre Club, the Denver Center Theatre Company, the Huntington Theatre, the Guthrie Theatre, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, the Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C., The Theatre Royal Bath, the Shakespeare Center LA, The Stratford Festival of Canada and The Royal Shakespeare Company.
DRAMATURG
KAY DE is a second-year M.A. student in Theatre Arts. They obtained their B.A. at SDSU in Theatre Arts along with a Minor in Creative Writing, a Minor in Humanities, and a Certificate in Leadership. They have worked within various areas of theatre, and are total nerds for theatre theory, with special interest in Queer and Gothic studies.
CAST: WHO’S WHO
Angelo Aceves
(Lead Actor)
Angelo is looking forward to play the role of Lead Actor in Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author. In the past he’s had the pleasure of performing as Grandpa Joe from Willy Wonka, Grimsby from The Little Mermaid, Monsieur D’arque from Beauty and the Beast and Pepe from West Side Story; just to name a few. He has also performed both with The Old Globe and at The New Amsterdam Theatre in New York City. Angelo’s a Theatre Arts, Performance major graduating this May of 2025 from San Diego State University. He likes the warm weather, to travel and be with loved ones; he hopes you enjoy the show!
Beck Burgueno
(Young Actor)
Beck Alexander Burgueno is a second year at San Diego State University. Before attending SDSU he had done a lot of youth theater and during his first year at SDSU he performed in a one act for Uncaged in which he played Joseph in Joseph and Mary. Six Characters in Search of an Author will be his first main stage production and he is super excited and ready to perform! Beck is happy to play the role of the Young Actor and looks forward to performing the play with his fellow cast mates.
Braxton Bell
(The Father)
Braxton Bell is in his fourth year at San Diego State University as a Theatre Arts, Performance major. He has been acting since the age of eight, and has performed in over thirty theatrical productions. Notable roles include Creon in Medea for the Skull and Dagger Dramatic Society at SDSU, Reverend Parris in The Crucible, Doody in Grease, and Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, just to name a few. Outside of theater, Braxton is a student leader on campus, the Social Media Coordinator for Arts Alive SDSU, and has done professional commercial work. He hopes you enjoy this production of Six Characters in Search of an Author! Instagram: @legitbraxtonbell
CAST: WHO’S WHO
Carter Tompkins-Bischel
(Assistant Stage Manager)
Carter is super pumped to finally be a part of a Main Stage show and get the opportunity to act alongside such passionate performers. Some of his past roles include Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, & Man in Skull & Dagger’s production of Clean, as well as most recently seen as Alfred in S&D’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead. This semester he will also be directing The Death of Zukasky for Skull & Dagger. Despite being a Theatre Arts (Performance) major, he has been breaking into the SDSU film scene and has produced three short films under Mammoth Slayer Pictures. His dream is to act, write, direct, produce, etc... anything just to be able to play a part in storytelling. He wants to thank Dr. Katie Turner & the entire cast + crew for such a wonderful experience. Insta - @ carterrhenryy @mammothslayerpictures
Catie Shuster
(Actor/Little Girl Puppeteer)
Catie Shuster is a second-year Theatre Arts, Performance major at San Diego State University and is thrilled to be participating in this production. She has previously worked on shows including The House of Bernarda Alba, Clue, Anastasia, Puffs, The Theory of Relativity, and more. Other credits include various short films. She hopes you enjoy the show!
Daniela Martinez
(Head Stage Hand)
Daniela Martinez was born in San Diego, California, and is currently an Undergraduate at San Diego State University studying both Theatre and Marketing. Her journey into acting was sparked by her innate ability to empathize and connect with others, nurtured by a childhood filled with diverse performances in sports such as Mixed Martial Arts, Gymnastics and Cheerleading, igniting a lifelong passion for acting and being on stage. Her performance credits include The Thanksgiving Play; Almost, Maine and 100 Miles From Home, which received a Social Awareness Award. In other words, she is thrilled to make her SDSU debut!
CAST: WHO’S WHO
Emily Campos
(Props Master)
Emily is overjoyed to make her main stage debut in Six Characters in Search of an Author. Emily is currently in her 3rd year as a Theatre Arts, Performance major here at SDSU. She has been involved in past productions such as Almost, Maine and the Playwrights Project. She’s also appeared in short films such as A Bloody Invite. She would like to thank her family and friends for their endless support! You can find her @emilyy.14_ on Instagram
Isaiah Macedo (Usher)
Isaiah is an (Indigenous Americas (Mexico)) born in the Central Valley and Is currently a fourth year at SDSU. He enjoys acting, speeding, staying out past curfew, cats, and many other things. If you want to stalk him his Instagram is @dimacedoh. Actors response, “ aHHHHHHHHH,” states he’s super excited.
Jayden Long
(Head Usher)
Jayden is a first year here at San Diego State University. She is very excited for this production as it is her first one at the school. She is very thankful for this whole process and everyone who has supported her.
Jayden Smith
(Actor/Little Girl Puppeteer)
Jayden is feeling bittersweet to end her 4 years at SDSU being a part of Six Characters. She is currently a senior pursuing her BA in Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Performance, as well as a minor in Marketing. She was just recently seen playing Paris at the Prague Shakespeare Company’s production of Troilus and Cressida this past July. With other memorable credits being: #8 in The Wolves (SDSU Mainstage) & Costume Technician for The Crucible (Skull and Dagger SDSU) and Assistant Director for Call Your Mother (CCAE Theatricals). Jayden sends all her love and thanks to her friends and family for all the support. She hopes you enjoy the show! Ig: @_jayjay12_
CAST: WHO’S WHO
JC Sanmarti
(The Son)
JC is a fourth-year Theatre Arts, Performance Major here at San Diego State University. He is excited to be closing off his final semester at SDSU with another Mainstage production and is thankful to have worked with so many talented people during his time at SDSU. JC has been recently seen playing the role of The Player in Skull and Dagger’s production of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead along with being in their productions of The Crucible and Medea. He would like to give a special thanks to Dr. Katie for giving him the opportunity to bring this story to life and thank his family for continuously supporting his endeavors. He hopes you enjoy the show. @jc.sanmarti on Instagram
Kaitlynn Dupuy
(The Mother)
Kaitlynn Dupuy (She/Her/Hers) was born and raised in San Diego, California. She holds an AA in Theatre Performance, Acting from Grossmont Community College and is currently working towards a BA in Theatre Arts, Performance from San Diego State University. Her educational theatre credits from Grossmont Community College include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Pride and Prejudice, She Speaks: A Musical Review, James and the Giant Peach, Actors Process: Pandemonium, Sugar and Seed, Amazing Adventures of the Marvelous Monkey King, and The Little Mermaid.
Kyla Booker
(Stage Hand/Young Boy Puppeteer)
Kyla is a 2nd year Theatre Arts, Performance major and this is her first Main Stage production! They have previously been a part of SDSU’s Black Renaissance production of Sweat and V-Day’s Raise the Vibration. She is so excited to be a part of this show and hopes to do more in the near future!
CAST: WHO’S WHO
Mia Spencer
(Lead Actress)
Mia Spencer is from Sacramento, CA, and is a senior studying Theatre Arts, Performance with an emphasis in acting at SDSU. She has been performing since she was just 9 years old and has recently added being a Teaching Artist to her resume as of 2 years ago. She absolutely loves sharing her passion for theatre with other students in the San Diego area. She also holds the role of Patron Services Manager at Trinity Theatre Company. Some past roles include Martha in The Secret Garden: Spring Version, Fred’s guest/maid/fezziwig daughter in A Christmas Carol, and the prince in Romeo and Juliet. This is her first time performing in an SDSU production and she hopes you enjoy the show!
Parker Velazquez
(Stage Hand)
This is Parker Velazquez’s first production at San Diego State University. This is her first year of studying theatre. She is excited to perform and hopes you enjoy the show!
Quin Shaw
(The
Director)
Quin Shaw (he/they) grew up in the Chicagoland area, participating in community theater productions from a young age and developing a love of storytelling. They are in their fourth year at San Diego State University pursuing a B.A. in Theatre Arts, Performance with a minor in TFM Critical Studies (screenwriting). He founded the Comedy Club at SDSU which is “a club that creates and performs original comedy of any form including but not limited to sketch comedy, stand-up comedy, and improv” and is an aspiring comedian. Their most recent and notable film credits include American Horror Stories: Facelift, Beyond The Scene, and Starbound. Some of his recent theatrical credits include the V-Day SDSU: Raise the Vibration, Comedy Tonight: Three Original Works, and Uncaged Festival. He is excited to play The Director in Six Characters in Search of an Author.
CAST: WHO’S WHO
Rebecca Helft
(The Stepdaughter)
Rebecca Helft is a second year Theatre Arts, Performance and Philosophy major. She is thrilled to be playing The Stepdaughter in her Mainstage debut. Previous credits include Nikki (Reveangance 4000), Betty (The Crucible), Faith (Medea), Delilah (Joseph and Mary), Rosie (Mamma Mia), and Smee (Peter and the Starcatcher). When not performing she can be found at the beach, on a hike, crafting, or working with Camp Kesem, which aims to provide a free summer camp for children impacted by a parent or guardian’s cancer. She would like to thank Dr. Katie Turner, and the wonderful cast and crew of Six Characters, for being such a thoughtful, talented, and hardworking group. She would also like to thank her family for being her #1 supporters, and her roommates for being cutie patooties. @rebeccahelft
Ryan Yerger (Actor)
Ryan Yerger is a 3rd year Theatre Arts major with an emphasis in Performance. Some of his past credits include Forster (To Begin With), Fitzwilliam Darcy (Pride and Prejudice), and Orpheus (Eurydice). Ryan would like to thank the artistic team, cast, his family and friends, and his girlfriend, for writing this bio. Enjoy the show!
Sierra Fisher (Young Actress)
Sierra Fisher is excited to be performing in her first department show at SDSU. She is 19 years old and a freshman here. Her major is Theatre Arts with an emphasis in Performance, and she is minoring in Creative Writing. Sierra loves to perform and her past favorite roles include SpongeBob in SpongeBob Squarepants the Musical, Shakespeare in Something Rotten, and most recently, Hunyak in Chicago with SDSU MTC. Sierra would like to thank her family, including all her cats, for being her biggest cheerleaders!
CAST: WHO’S WHO
Storm Bell
(Stage Manager)
Storm Bell, a junior at San Diego State majoring in Theatre Arts, Performance, discovered her passion for acting at the age of 5, thanks to a shy childhood that led her to the stage. She’s been in the theatrical productions of Café Murder, and Medea here at SDSU. During her freshman year of college, she found another love: directing. She has already directed a theatrical production Almost, Maine and three short films, “A Bloody Invite,” “Heart of Memories,” and “Mrs. to Misery” exploring storytelling in a whole new way. This is Storm’s first mainstage production. She wants to thank God, her loving parents, grandparents, and great grandparents for always believing in her.
Sydney Manning(Actor/Young Boy Puppeteer)
Sydney Manning is in her third year at SDSU and is thrilled to be making her main stage debut! Originally from Riverside County, her past credits include Almost, Maine (Marvalyn, Gayle, and Hope u/s), The Rocky Horror Show (Phantom), and You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown (The Blanket). Additionally, she is proudly serving as Vice President of SDSU Musical Theatre Club. She would like to give her utmost thanks to Dr. Katie and the rest of the production team for this opportunity, and to everyone that has supported her over the years!
Valerie Sanchez (Supporting Actress/Madam Pace)
Valerie Sanchez is a third year Theatre Arts, Performance major, minoring in Cultural Proficiency and she is so excited to be acting in her first main stage production! Previous credits here at State include Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead (Ophelia), Almost, Maine (Marvalyn) and Medea (Grace). She is also a Folklorico dancer who has been dancing for 4 years and currently dances with Ballet Folklorico Xochipilli here at State. She would like to thank her family, friends, and dog Phineas for all their support and love. Enjoy the show!
CAST: WHO’S WHO
Coming Soon
Theatre Theatre
Apr. 10th-19th Hamlet
7:30 p.m. By William Shakespeare
2:00 p.m. Sun., Apr. 13th & Sat., 19th
Prebys Stage
$20 General Admission
$17 Students & Seniors
Directed by Dani Bedau
Hamlet is Shakespeare’s most famous play and arguably the most famous play in the English language. Who is the “real” Hamlet? Centuries of Shakespeare followers have asked this question. The play gives us so many sides of this one person. This production will explore this idea: the fractures in Hamlet’s psyche and in the world of the play. By casting in a non-traditional way, this production will explore Hamlet’s fractured family, society, and internal life.
May. 2nd-May 8th Rent
7:30 p.m.
2:00 p.m. Sun., May. 4th
Main Stage Theatre
$20 General Admission
$17 Students & Seniors
Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson
Directed and Choreographed by Courtney Corey
Rent portrays the lives of impoverished artists in NYC’s East Village during the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Through compelling characters, it explores love, friendship, addiction, and artistic ambition amidst social and economic turmoil. Through memorable characters like Mark, Roger, and Mimi, it confronts issues of addiction, poverty, and the pursuit of dreams. With a rock-infused score and powerful themes of hope and resilience, it captivates audiences with its raw authenticity and emotional depth.
Television+Film Television+Film
May 13th-15th 7:30 p.m.
Main Stage Theatre
$10 All Audiences
Emerging Filmmakers Showcase
Every semester, SDSU’s Program in Television, Film, and New Media showcases the best student work produced by undergraduates and MFA students in the program. Spread across three nights are three distinct lineups of short narrative and documentary films.
PRODUCTION STAFF
CREATIVE/MANAGEMENT
Assistant Director ..................................................................... Emerson Clarke
Costume Shop Manager ............................................................... Teri Tavares
Costume/Wig Technician ......................................................... Peter Herman
Assistant Costume Designers .................... Arianna Elizabeth Quintero°, ......................................................................................................... Mildred Alonso
Drapers ............. Heather Nunn°, Anastasiia Sennikova°, Peter Herman
Masks ...................................................... Asher Feinstein°, Jocelyn Tamayo°, .................... Linda Litchy-Cervantes, Sabrina Soto°, Sarah Lingenfelter°
Dyer/Painters .................................................. Teri Tavares, Asher Feinstein°
Costume Construction.........................................................THEA 442B class
Costume Run Crew ........................................... Allie Zygmont, Andy Meija,
......................................................................... Elias Mautrah, Angelina Molina
Stephanie Norris, Matt Talley, Madison Mercado, Amelia Simpson, Nicholas Allegretto, and Derek Stakelum
Audrey Daynes, for helping create our informational video
Extra special thanks to the TTF Staff and Faculty who helped bring this vision to life; your dedication and mentorship are unparalleled.
SDSU SCHOOL OF THEATRE, TELEVISION, AND FILM DONORS
We are pleased to thank our generous supporters, as all that we accomplish would not be possible without the generous support of alumni and community members, who make significant contributions to support our students and programs at SDSU. Thank you!
Endowed Funds
Established with a commitment of $50,000 or more Ages of Drama - Live! Endowment • Allison Rossett Endowed Scholarship in Musical Theatre • Bellinghiere Endowed Scholarship • Bolles Family Musical Theater Endowed Scholarship • Brita C. Davis and Richard R. Davis Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship • Carol Vassiliadis Endowed Scholarship in Musical Theatre • Chad Shelton Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Theatre Design and Technology • Chuck and Robin Luby Endowment for Musical Theatre • Clarence and Catherine Stephenson Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship • Clayton Brace Awards Endowment • Darlene and Donald Shiley Endowment for Student Excellence in Musical Theatre • Deborah M. Dexter Endowed Scholarship in Musical Theatre • Denis Sanders Memorial Endowment • Denise Madruga Endowed Scholarship in Theatre • Don Powell Interface Program Endowment • Drama Circle Endowment • Gordon J. Lusk Endowment • Hayes Anderson Student Excellence Endowment • Henry Edward and Gail Johnson McAdams Memorial Endowed Scholarship • Henry Stanton Endowment • Hunton D. Sellman Endowment • James Chris Nichols Memorial Endowment • Judith and Jack White Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship • Julia R. Brown Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship • Maggi McKerrow Endowed Scholarship for Theatre • Maggi McKerrow Endowed Scholarship for Study Abroad • Mangan/Christensen Endowed Scholarship for Musical Theatre • Marion Ross Endowed Scholarship • MFA Musical Theatre Endowed Professorship • Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship • Nella Feldman Gross Endowment • Paulette Wilson Endowment for Musical Theatre • Powell/SCE Design Endowed Chair • Robert Shields Memorial Endowment • Ron and Sue Heller Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship • Roscoe-Tiffany MFA Musical Theatre Endowed Scholarship • Ruth Anna, Louis F., Dorothy Cable Endowed Scholarship • Sybil E. Jones Endowment • The McCabe Family Endowed Scholarship • Theatre Endowment
Annual Funds & Scholarships
Up to $50,000
Aztecs to Hollywood • Bellinghiere Scholarship • Clayton Brace Awards Scholarship Fund • Drama Circle • Nella Feldman Gross Scholarship Endowment • Michael and Anne-Charlotte “A.C.” Harvey Scholarship • Ron and Sue Heller Fund for Musical Theatre • Gale Anne Hurd TFM Program Love Letters Production Fund • Los Lobos Documentaries Film Fund • Denise Madruga Scholarship • John J. Martin and Katherine Fitzhugh • MFA Musical Theatre Scholarship • Gail Johnson McAdams Memorial Scholarship • Musical Theatre Musical Theatre Archive Operations • Musical Theatre Production Fund • Dan Prentice Memorial Musical Theatre Fund • Dennis Sanders Scholarship • San Diego Theatre Arts Research Lab • Michele Schlecht MFA Musical Theatre Scholarship • Hunton Sellman Scholarship • Chad Shelton Memorial Scholarship • R P Shields Scholarship Student Success Fund Theatre, Television and Film • Judy White Scholarship
SDSU SCHOOL OF THEATRE, TELEVISION, AND
DONORS
Generous Supporters
$500+ in the Last 5 Years thru August, 2024
Hayes L. and Marilyn J. Anderson
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Michael and Anne-Charlotte “A.C.” Harvey
Ronald and Susan Heller MFA Fund
Bruce A. and Jane W. Hopkins
Margaret A. Howard
Osborn and Dea Hurston
Blair G. Irwin
Jay W. Jeffcoat
Paul H. Jozwicki
Paula Kalustian
Koji C. K and Susan F. Kasuyama
Georgette M. Katz
Dennis G. Keith
Brett Karl Kelly and Chad Stewart Birmingham
Gary A. and Maxine A. Kreitzer
Michelle Anne LaGrandeur
Dr. William and Evelyn M. Lamden
Jeremy Lane
Kathleen M. Lemieux
Charles S. Luby and Robin B. Luby
Denise Madruga and Michael Lesniak
Mort Marcus and Deborah Klein
Jim A. and Deborah D. Marshall
John Andrew Mateja
Stewart Scott Mc Donald
Timothy Mccalister
McCulloch Family Charitable Fund
Oliver R. McElroy
Paul S. Mcintyre and Cynthia McIntyre
Colin Mckearnan
Randi and Thomas L. McKenzie, Ph.D.
Margaret McKerrow, Ph.D.
Martin McKerrow
Toni B. McKerrow
Kevin J. O’Connor and Katherine D. O’Connor
Terry Lee O’Donnell
Mike and Chris Pack
Adam Parrocha
Michael James Perkins
Paula Perry
James P. and Gale S. Petrie
Richard Sellers and Ellen Porter
Marshall A. Lewis and Judy M. Price-Lewis
Linda J. Rankin and Rodney T. Whitlow
Jon Carl Ringbom
Dr. Patti Roscoe and James Tiffany
Allison Rossett, Ed.D.
Michele Schlecht and Richard Alan Covey
The Shelton Family
John A. Shelton
Mike Shelton
Karen and Christopher (Kit) Sickels
Fred and Sonia Silverstein
Jeffrey H. and Malka Silverstein
Emily Norine Smith
Jane K. Smith
Nancy A. and Alan Richard Spector, M.D., Ph.D.
Clarence E. and Catherine Ann Stephenson
Charles J. and Nancy M. Stewart
James J. Tarbox
Ronald T. Thornton
Seth and Cynthia L. Trostler
C. Anne Turhollow
Kenneth G. and Joyce Ulrich
Edward Law Underwood
Carol Vassiliadis
Richard and Patricia Wagner
Carey Gail Wall
Debra Wanger
Judith and Jack White
Rodney T. Whitlow
Carole Wilson
Joshua A. Young
The Conrad Prebys Foundation
ADMINISTRATION
FACULTY & STAFF
Stephen Brotebeck, Professor & Director of TTF
Dr. Katie Turner, Assistant Director of TTF
Stephanie Garibo Alday, TTF Academic Advisor
TaiReikca LA, Box Office Coordinator
TELEVISION, FILM, AND NEW MEDIA FACULTY/STAFF
Marwa Abdalla, Lecturer
Abraham Amkpa, Lecturer
Ralph Blanchard, Lecturer
Jose De Matos, Tech Engineer
Krystal Dawkins, Lecturer
Jeff Deverett, Lecturer
Oliver Eclarinal, Lecturer
Alex Farnsley, Lecturer
Michael Feinstein, Lecturer
Lizzette Flores, Equipment Supervisor
Mark Freeman, Professor
Ángel Granados, Lecturer
Glenn Heath, Lecturer
Brian Hu, Associate Professor
Brie Iatarola, Lecturer
Donn Johnson, Lecturer
Brendan Julian, Lecturer
Martha M. Lauzen, Professor, Executive DirectorCenter for the Study of Women in Television/Film
Stephanie Lee, TFM Shop Foreman
Jessica McGaugh, Assistant Professor
David Morong, Professor, Graduate Advisor
Vernon Mortensen, Lecturer
Greg Penetrante, TV/Film Studio Engineer
Dane Picard, Lecturer
Mary Posatko, Assistant Professor
Timothy A. Powell, Professor, Area Head
Genadi Radiul, Lecturer
David Steinberg, Lecturer
Rich Underwood, Lecturer
Stuart Voytilla, Lecturer, Undergrad Advisor
THEATRE FACULTY/STAFF
Adrian Alita, Associate Professor, Head of Acting
Dani Bedau, Associate Professor
Denitsa Bliznakova, Professor, Head of Costume
Design & Technology
Cynthia Bloodgood, Lecturer
Peter Cirino, Associate Professor
Ronald Councell, Staff Accompanist/Vocal Coach
Kristen Flores, Scenic Charge Artist/Prop Master
Ralph Funicello, Don Powell Chair, Scene Design
TaiReikca LA, Production Facilitator
Peter Herman, Wig Making, Make-up Costume
Construction
D.J. Hopkins, Professor
Brooke Kesler, Lecturer
Noah Lange, Performing Arts District
Technical Specialist
Kat Makarushka, Theatrical Lighting, Projection, & Sound Lead
Randi McKenzie, Emerita Assistant Dean
Anne McMills, Associate Professor, Design/Technology MFA Graduate Advisor
Brian McVicker, Technical Director
Robert Meffe, Professor, Graduate Advisor, Head of Musical Theatre
Laurinda Nikkel, Lecturer
Shelley Orr, Associate Professor, Graduate Advisor for MA Theatre Arts
Wilfred Paloma, Lecturer
Paul Peterson, Lecturer
Nicholas Ponting, Lecturer
Jesca Prudencio, Associate Professor
Randy Reinholz, Professor
Jill Rovatsos, Lecturer
Jay Sheehan, Faculty Production Manager, Stage Management Advisor
Nancy Snow Carr, Lecturer
Teri McConnell Tavares, Costume Shop Manager
Katie (Laura) Turner, Lecturer
Christopher Warren, Associate Professor
Andrew Young, Scene Shop Foreman
EMERITUS FACULTY
Hayes Anderson, Professor Emeritus
Carroll Blue, Professor Emerita
Anne-Charlotte Harvey, Professor Emerita
Greg Durbin, Professor Emeritus
Michael Harvey, Professor Emeritus
Elizabeth Heighten, Professor Emerita
Kaye Jameson, Professor Emeritus
Paula Kalustian, Professor Emerita
Margaret Larlham, Professor Emerita
Peter Larlham, Professor Emeritus
Robert E. Lee, Professor Emeritus
Roy Madsen, Professor Emeritus
Donald R. Martin, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus
Margaret McKerrow, Professor Emerita
Tom Meador, Professor Emeritus
Jack Ofield, Professor Emeritus
Michael Real, Professor Emeritus
Beeb Salzer, Professor Emeritus
Loren Schreiber, Emeritus Professor
Rick Simas, Lecturer Emeritus
Carolyn “C.J.” Keith, Lecturer Emerita
John Witherspoon, Professor Emeritus
Craig Wolf, Professor Emeritus
GENERAL INFORMATION
CELL PHONES
As a courtesy to those around you, please turn off or silence cell phones while in the theatre.
CAMERAS & RECORDING DEVICES
The use of any cameras and/or recording devices is strictly prohibited without advance written permission from The School of Theatre, Television, and Film.
LATE ARRIVALS & NO-SHOWS
Please arrive on-time and do not be a no-show. Latecomers may be asked until an intermission to be seated; and, seats not claimed will be re-sold.
BOX OFFICE
Hours of Operation: One-hour before Curtain
The Box Office is closed for all school holidays as well as during the summer vacation period.
Purchase Tickets Online: ttf.sdsu.edu
General Admission Tickets: Theatre $20 / Film $10 (Prices may vary for special events/productions)
Email: ttf.boxoffice@mail.sdsu.edu
Phone: 619-594-6884
Administrative Office Phone: 619-594-5091
Theatre productions, film events, and TV programming are made possible by the generous support of our donors. To make a contribution to our outstanding programs, please call 619.594.4548 or visit psfa.sdsu.edu
Take a Seat!
SDSU performing arts invites you to take part in an exciting opportunity to support its new Performing Arts District in a meaningful way by participating in the Take A Seat campaign.
You have the opportunity to Take A Seat in the spotlight and enjoy having your name, a sentiment, anniversary date, or the name of another person you wish to honor laser-engraved on an elegant nameplate placed on one of the theater seats. Your sponsorship will support performances, students, faculty, and the greatest needs of the SDSU performing arts program.
The engraving you select promises that you or your loved one will be a visible part of this dynamic Performing Arts District for years to come.
Interested in reserving a seat?
Scan the QR Code above for more information, or visit psfa.sdsu.edu/takeaseat
